“Seven of us stayed at River Manor — five adults, two children, and three dogs.”
We were told we were the first paying guests, which made the stay feel a bit like a trial run. The appliances, furniture, and soft furnishings are of a high standard. I always check the beds first when booking, and I was pleased to find they were very comfortable — a good night’s sleep is essential on holiday.
The layout was a little tricky to understand from the description, but to clarify, the house is spread over three floors. On the main (entrance) level, there’s a living room and a small office with views of the river, the main bedroom with an en-suite shower room, and a small kitchen area equipped with a wine fridge, kettle, and toaster. Upstairs, there are three more bedrooms — two of which are en-suite with baths, and one accessed through another room.
On the lower floor, there's another bedroom with an en-suite (also with a bath), and below that, down a flight of narrow stairs with a sharp turn, you’ll find the boot room and a spacious open-plan living area and kitchen/diner. This space opens onto a south-facing patio and garden that leads directly to the river’s edge — a real highlight of the property, especially on sunny days.
That said, we did experience several teething problems during our stay. The boiler failed, the top half of the fridge wasn’t working, and the washing machine flooded the boot room. Some of the windows are quite old, with noticeable gaps that made it chilly at night, and the carpet fitting is quirky — though mostly hidden under rugs. We had to adjust the self-close hinges on the doors, or they may have trapped tiny fingers.
Despite these issues, the owner has clearly put thought into what guests might need, and we got the sense she’s been let down by tradespeople. It’s a real shame the hot tub isn’t working yet, as it would be a perfect spot to unwind while taking in the garden and river views.
While we weren’t particularly taken with Evesham itself, there are plenty of great places to visit within an hour’s drive. Overall, we would return — the location and potential are great — but the property does need some upgrading to reach its full promise.
